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MAZATLAN, Mexico, Oct 23 (Reuters) – Thousands of people were evacuated, buildings boarded up and clbades canceled on Mexico’s Pacific coast as Hurricane Willa threatened to batter tourist resorts with high winds and heavy rains on Tuesday.
Residents on Monday night sealed off windows and doors with large wooden planks on hotels facing the historic downtown boardwalk of Mazatlan, a popular coastal city in the state of Sinaloa, as tourists strolled nearby and palm trees swayed in a light breeze.
Forecast to be one of the most powerful hurricanes to enter Mexico from the Pacific in recent years, Willa is expected to strike a few miles south of Mazatlan as soon as Tuesday afternoon.
At a gas station on the city’s outskirts, a steady line of cars queued up to refuel and shop at the neighboring convenience store.
Station attendant Zulema Pardo said residents had been streaming through for hours to stock up on basic items, buying enormous jugs of water and gasoline, and leaving the bread shelf completely empty.
“People are really scared,” she said. “People are crazy and worked up.”
Late on Monday the storm was advancing about 80 miles (130 km) west of Las Islas Marias islands opposite Nayarit, the state south of Sinaloa, according to the Miami-based National Hurricane Center (NHC).
Several other tourist getaways in Nayarit, as well as the beach resort of Puerto Vallarta in Jalisco state, also lie near the path of the storm, which is forecast to bring a “life-threatening storm surge, wind and rainfall,” the NHC said.
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Preparing for Hurricane Willa
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Men transport a boat on a truck in Teacapan, Sinaloa state, Mexico, on October 22, 2018, before the arrival of Hurricane Willa. – Hurricane Willa was upgraded to a ‘potentially catastrophic’ Category 5 storm Monday off Mexico’s Pacific coast, where it was expected to produce life-threatening wind and flooding, the US National Hurricane Center said. (Photo by ALFREDO ESTRELLA / AFP) (Photo credit should read ALFREDO ESTRELLA/AFP/Getty Images)
This image provided by NOAA on Monday, Oct. 22, 2018, shows Hurricane Willa in the eastern Pacific, on a path to smash into Mexico’s western coast. (NOAA via AP)
Men move a kayak at the beach in Mazatlan, Sinaloa state, Mexico on October 22, 2018, before the arrival of Hurricane Willa. – Hurricane Willa upgraded to maximum Category 5 storm, US forecasters informed. (Photo by Daniel SLIM / AFP) (Photo credit should read DANIEL SLIM/AFP/Getty Images)
People prepare to be evacuated in Teacapan, Sinaloa state, Mexico, on October 22, 2018, before the arrival of Hurricane Willa. – Hurricane Willa was upgraded to a ‘potentially catastrophic’ Category 5 storm Monday off Mexico’s Pacific coast, where it was expected to produce life-threatening wind and flooding, the US National Hurricane Center said. (Photo by ALFREDO ESTRELLA / AFP) (Photo credit should read ALFREDO ESTRELLA/AFP/Getty Images)
View of the city sign in Teacapan, Sinaloa state, Mexico, on October 22, 2018, before the arrival of Hurricane Willa. – Hurricane Willa was upgraded to a ‘potentially catastrophic’ Category 5 storm Monday off Mexico’s Pacific coast, where it was expected to produce life-threatening wind and flooding, the US National Hurricane Center said. (Photo by Alfredo ESTRELLA / AFP) (Photo credit should read ALFREDO ESTRELLA/AFP/Getty Images)
A man works trying to protect a restaurant from Hurricane Willa, before its arival in Mazatlan, Sinaloa state, Mexico on October 22, 2018. – Hurricane Willa upgraded to maximum Category 5 storm, US forecasters informed. (Photo by Daniel SLIM / AFP) (Photo credit should read DANIEL SLIM/AFP/Getty Images)
People gather preparing to be evacuated in Teacapan, Sinaloa state, Mexico, on October 22, 2018, before the arrival of Hurricane Willa. – Hurricane Willa was upgraded to a ‘potentially catastrophic’ Category 5 storm Monday off Mexico’s Pacific coast, where it was expected to produce life-threatening wind and flooding, the US National Hurricane Center said. (Photo by Alfredo ESTRELLA / AFP) (Photo credit should read ALFREDO ESTRELLA/AFP/Getty Images)
A Civil Protection employee gathers people who will be later evacuated in Teacapan, Sinaloa state, Mexico, on October 22, 2018, before the arrival of Hurricane Willa. – Hurricane Willa was upgraded to a ‘potentially catastrophic’ Category 5 storm Monday off Mexico’s Pacific coast, where it was expected to produce life-threatening wind and flooding, the US National Hurricane Center said. (Photo by Alfredo ESTRELLA / AFP) (Photo credit should read ALFREDO ESTRELLA/AFP/Getty Images)
People gather preparing to be evacuated in Teacapan, Sinaloa state, Mexico, on October 22, 2018, before the arrival of Hurricane Willa. – Hurricane Willa was upgraded to a ‘potentially catastrophic’ Category 5 storm Monday off Mexico’s Pacific coast, where it was expected to produce life-threatening wind and flooding, the US National Hurricane Center said. (Photo by Alfredo ESTRELLA / AFP) (Photo credit should read ALFREDO ESTRELLA/AFP/Getty Images)
Men tie a kayak at the beach in Mazatlan, Sinaloa state, Mexico on October 22, 2018, before the arrival of Hurricane Willa. – Hurricane Willa upgraded to maximum Category 5 storm, US forecasters informed. (Photo by Daniel SLIM / AFP) (Photo credit should read DANIEL SLIM/AFP/Getty Images)
People are transported to be later evacuated in Teacapan, Sinaloa state, Mexico, on October 22, 2018, before the arrival of Hurricane Willa. – Hurricane Willa was upgraded to a ‘potentially catastrophic’ Category 5 storm Monday off Mexico’s Pacific coast, where it was expected to produce life-threatening wind and flooding, the US National Hurricane Center said. (Photo by ALFREDO ESTRELLA / AFP) (Photo credit should read ALFREDO ESTRELLA/AFP/Getty Images)
This GOES East satellite image provided by NOAA shows Hurricane Willa in the eastern Pacific, on a path toward Mexico’s Pacific coast on Monday, Oct. 22, 2018. (NOAA via AP)
People prepare to be evacuated in Teacapan, Sinaloa state, Mexico, on October 22, 2018, before the arrival of Hurricane Willa. – Hurricane Willa was upgraded to a ‘potentially catastrophic’ Category 5 storm Monday off Mexico’s Pacific coast, where it was expected to produce life-threatening wind and flooding, the US National Hurricane Center said. (Photo by ALFREDO ESTRELLA / AFP) (Photo credit should read ALFREDO ESTRELLA/AFP/Getty Images)
People prepare to be evacuated in Teacapan, Sinaloa state, Mexico, on October 22, 2018, before the arrival of Hurricane Willa. – Hurricane Willa was upgraded to a ‘potentially catastrophic’ Category 5 storm Monday off Mexico’s Pacific coast, where it was expected to produce life-threatening wind and flooding, the US National Hurricane Center said. (Photo by ALFREDO ESTRELLA / AFP) (Photo credit should read ALFREDO ESTRELLA/AFP/Getty Images)
A Civil Protection vehicle patrols the streets of Teacapan in Sinaloa state, Mexico, on October 22, 2018, before the arrival of Hurricane Willa. – Hurricane Willa was upgraded to a ‘potentially catastrophic’ Category 5 storm Monday off Mexico’s Pacific coast, where it was expected to produce life-threatening wind and flooding, the US National Hurricane Center said. (Photo by ALFREDO ESTRELLA / AFP) (Photo credit should read ALFREDO ESTRELLA/AFP/Getty Images)
A man prepares to surf in Mazatlan, Sinaloa state, Mexico on October 22, 2018, before the arrival of Hurricane Willa. – Hurricane Willa upgraded to maximum Category 5 storm, US forecasters informed. (Photo by Daniel SLIM / AFP) (Photo credit should read DANIEL SLIM/AFP/Getty Images)
Tourists enjoy the beach in Mazatlan, Sinaloa state, Mexico on October 21, 2018, where Hurricane Willa is expected to land next October 23. – Hurricane Willa strengthened to category 4 in Pacific waters off the coast of Mexico, becoming ‘extremely dangerous’ as it slowly approaches the mainland, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported. (Photo by Daniel SLIM / AFP) (Photo credit should read DANIEL SLIM/AFP/Getty Images)
View of waves in Mazatlan, Sinaloa state, Mexico on October 22, 2018, before the arrival of Hurricane Willa. – Hurricane Willa upgraded to maximum Category 5 storm, US forecasters informed. (Photo by Daniel SLIM / AFP) (Photo credit should read DANIEL SLIM/AFP/Getty Images)
View at the beach in Mazatlan, Sinaloa state, Mexico on October 21, 2018, where Hurricane Willa is expected to land next October 23. – Hurricane Willa strengthened to category 4 in Pacific waters off the coast of Mexico, becoming ‘extremely dangerous’ as it slowly approaches the mainland, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported. (Photo by Daniel SLIM / AFP) (Photo credit should read DANIEL SLIM/AFP/Getty Images)
Tourists enjoy the beach in Mazatlan, Sinaloa state, Mexico on October 21, 2018, where Hurricane Willa is expected to land next October 23. – Hurricane Willa strengthened to category 4 in Pacific waters off the coast of Mexico, becoming ‘extremely dangerous’ as it slowly approaches the mainland, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported. (Photo by Daniel SLIM / AFP) (Photo credit should read DANIEL SLIM/AFP/Getty Images)
Tourists enjoy the beach in Mazatlan, Sinaloa state, Mexico on October 21, 2018, where Hurricane Willa is expected to land next October 23. – Hurricane Willa strengthened to category 4 in Pacific waters off the coast of Mexico, becoming ‘extremely dangerous’ as it slowly approaches the mainland, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported. (Photo by Daniel SLIM / AFP) (Photo credit should read DANIEL SLIM/AFP/Getty Images)
Tourists enjoy the beach in Mazatlan, Sinaloa state, Mexico on October 21, 2018, where Hurricane Willa is expected to land next October 23. – Hurricane Willa strengthened to category 4 in Pacific waters off the coast of Mexico, becoming ‘extremely dangerous’ as it slowly approaches the mainland, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported. (Photo by Daniel SLIM / AFP) (Photo credit should read DANIEL SLIM/AFP/Getty Images)
Tourists enjoy the beach in Mazatlan, Sinaloa state, Mexico on October 21, 2018, where Hurricane Willa is expected to land next October 23. – Hurricane Willa strengthened to category 4 in Pacific waters off the coast of Mexico, becoming ‘extremely dangerous’ as it slowly approaches the mainland, the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported. (Photo by Daniel SLIM / AFP) (Photo credit should read DANIEL SLIM/AFP/Getty Images)
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Willa, which was a Category 4 on the five-step Saffir-Simpson scale, was blowing maximum sustained winds of near 140 miles per hour (225 kph) on Monday night with higher gusts, the NHC said.
Headed northward, Willa is forecast to weaken after hitting the coast, the hurricane center said.
Antonio Echevarria, governor of Nayarit, said more than 10,000 people were being evacuated and schools would be closed. He warned locals not to defy the storm.
“Let’s not play the macho. Let’s not act like superheroes,” he said. “It’s a very strong hurricane, very potent, and we don’t want any tragedies.”
Sinaloa also canceled clbades in much of the state.
Up to 18 inches (45 cm) of rainfall could pummel the storm zone, the NHC said. Even buildings up to 500 meters (1,640 feet) from the coastline could lose power and suffer physical damage, Mexico’s National Meteorological Service (SMN) said.
Despite the looming threat, some tourists appeared unfazed.
“It doesn’t ruin the pleasure of being here,” said vacationer Angel Avelar, popping open a beer while dangling his feet off the boardwalk.
“Maybe things will be different tomorrow.”
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